Energy Conservation Tips

Try some of these simple ideas for using energy wisely. They�ll help you waste less energy, and save some money in the process.

• When heating something in a pot on the stove, use a lid. It saves heat and energy � and saves you time in the process.
• Turn off all unnecessary lights in your home.
• Because heat rises, insulating your ceilings is a great energy saver. It�s easy and has the potential to save up to 30% of your heating costs. Make sure all exterior walls, ceilings or roof areas are insulated to meet government standards.
• The fan in your gas or oil furnace consumes about 13% of your home�s electricity. Keep the furnace clean and in good repair. Replace the filter once a month during the winter. Have it serviced regularly.
• Have a water heating technician adjust the temperature of your water heater to an optimal temperature.
• Away on holidays? Turn the thermostat down to 12�C in winter. Turn off air conditioning in the summer.
• Plant deciduous (leafy) trees on the south side of your home to keep it cool during the summer months and plant coniferous trees (fir, pine) on the north side to block out the wind during the winter.
• Keep your blinds open on sunny days to heat up rooms during the winter months and keep them closed during the summer months to maintain cooler room temperatures.
• Use a ceiling fan instead of an air conditioner.
• Use an electric kettle to boil water. It uses half the energy required to heat water on the stove.
• A single pane of glass loses about 12 times as much heat as an insulated wall of the same area. Doubling all the panes in a typical Ontario home will reduce heating costs significantly.
• Use a combination of solar heat and a solar blanket to keep pool water warm.